Texas, TX - RN to BSN Nursing School Program

RN to BSN degrees in Texas target currently employed Registered Nurses who want to improve their training while still remaining in their current job. They are unique in that many of them allow RNs to pursue their BSN while still continuing to work through night classes and online degrees. Furthermore, it is possible to shorten the education process through NLN Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exams. These standardized exams test current knowledge in various areas of nursing and allow students to receive advancement placement based on where they currently stand with regards to nursing processes and skills, medical and surgical processes and knowledge, pediatrics, mental health and maternal newborn care, and more. This allows currently employed Registered Nurses to tailor individual coursework to their needs and to reach career goals, with the added bonus that an RN to BSN can be completed in as little as one year.

Not all school offer RN to BSNs, but with online options available, they can be completed from almost anywhere with internet in the state. Entry requirements are similar to other nursing school requirements, such as a minimum of a 2.5 GPA. And like an ADN or BSN, admission to general studies is required before applying to a nursing school. After acceptance into an RN to BSN program, students take courses in research, leadership, family and community health, community assessment and upper level electives that allow for further specialization of knowledge during an RN to BSN—topics such as legal studies, community health and more. Other specialized courses are also available from throughout the science department; RN to BSN students may take anything from upper level biochemistry to philosophy of health and sociology of health.

While an RN to BSN program rarely includes a final test like the NCLEX, there are usually minimum requirements for graduating—a minimum of a 2.5 GPA is normal. And once a student has graduated, many newfound opportunities for career advancement open up. Research and critical thinking skills, a broader scope of knowledge, and further leadership training can lead to both public and private sector research positions and community health programming beyond a hospital or clinical setting. Leadership and management skills offer the opportunity for advancement in current occupational settings as well. With an average Registered Nurse’s salary sitting above $60,000 (according to BLS.gov) in Texas, this can also mean that graduates of an RSN to BSN program have the opportunity to move to the higher end of the nursing salary scale, which in some cases can reach six figures.